Joel launches DTM career at Hockenheim: second fastest BMW in FP1

Joel has completed his first official session in the DTM, posting the second-quickest BMW time in Friday free practice at the Hockenheim season-opener.

Ex-Formula 1 driver Timo Glock was the only BMW representative to lap faster than Joel in the 30-minute session, albeit by the tiniest of margins: just 0.04s separated the two stablemates, with Glock’s 1m34.978s marginally quicker than Joel’s 1m35.007s.

Glock was 11th quickest overall, with Joel 13th. The remaining four BMWs filled positions 16-19.

The session saw Mercedes lead the way with a 1-2-3, former DTM champion Paul di Resta setting the outright pace courtesy of a 1m33.962s.

“It’s a solid start,” says Joel. “We had some small problems here and there, but that’s normal for the first session of the season and the feeling inside the car is good. While it’s only first practice, it’s nice to see that I’m able to run at a decent pace so far, and we’ll use this as the basis for tomorrow.”

Saturday will see another practice session take place in the morning, followed by the first qualifying and race of the season.

RESULTS – Free Practice 1